Development Research Programme DEVELOP2 Roundtable: Strengthening Local Capacities and Skills for Research in the Global South

Supporting research and strengthening research capacities are considered key development targets in many lower middle income countries, but local universities often have limited resources to undertake research. International research cooperation and improved research capacities can help bolster competitive position of LMICs. Strengthening the research capacity of universities and research institutes in developing countries is one of the goals of the DEVELOP2 programme.

This roundtable focuses on good practises to strengthen local capacities and skills for research in the Global South. The objective of the event is to share experiences of DEVELOP2 projects in this field, to learn about good practices in the United Kingdom, and to discuss how to improve this task in the DEVELOP2 projects. A short report/guidelines will be drafted on the basis of the event to be distributed more widely among DEVELOP2 researchers.

The roundtable will be started by a keynote speech by Professor Imelda Bates, Head of the Centre for Capacity Research, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LSTM.

Homework for participants:

1)     Read the article ‘Strengthening research management and support services in sub-Saharan African universities and research institutions’

2)     Ask yourself:

• What are the challenges in trying to strengthen the research capacity of institutions – in your own DEVELOP2 project and overall?

• How can activities to strengthen institutions’ research capacity be built into DEVELOP2 and other research projects?

• What support would be needed to make sure effective strengthening of institutions’ research capacity is embedded in research projects?

These questions will guide the discussion after Professor Bates’ keynote.

There will be a coffee break at 13.30–14.00.